I am a mother of 2 boys, living near Montreal. My husband and I love to sew together. We take classes together, and he is a Rock Star! He truly is my rock, my inspiration. He had a horrible work place accident and lost 2 fingers. But don't worry, we are back at it sewing. Check back for our projects. They are usually something for the kids, or costumes or fun pieces. Lately we have taken classes on Bras and undergarments.

Monday, May 5, 2008

Make your own laundry soap

Having a newborn is a lot of work! Laundry is just one of the daily tasks, and it is a HUGE one! We bought the "special" laundry soap at the beginning, free of perfumes and dyes. This can be very expensive.Upon researching on the Internet cheaper alternatives, I found that I can make my own laundry soap for 0.01$ a load! Free of harsh chemicals, perfumes and dyes, and cheap? Tell me how you say? Here is one recipe that I found that does an excellent job!

Directions· Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan. · Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts. · Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved. · Remove from heat. · Pour 4 cups hot water into the bucket. · Now add your soap mixture and stir. Now add 24 cups of water and stir.· Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. You use ½ cup per load

The Soap: The most typical type of soap to use is Fels Naptha. It is an old-fashioned type of soap usually found in the laundry aisle. You can also use a full bar of your choice, such as Ivory.

Washing Soda: This is not to be confused with baking soda. They are not the same thing. Washing soda is sodium carbonate or soda ash (baking soda is sodium bicarbonate). It is a white powder. Its purpose is to help remove dirt and orders. The brand to look for is Arm & Hammer Washing Soda. I find it in the laundry section of Wal-Mart.

Borax: Borax is a naturally occurring mineral: Sodium Borate. It is a white powder. Its purpose is as a laundry whitener and deodorizer. The brand to look for is 20 Mule Team. It comes in a 76 oz. box. You should be able to locate this in the laundry detergent aisle.

It does smell like the soap you use. You would only need 1/2 cup per load. If you want a thicker soap, you can increase the washing soda to 3/4 cup. My clothes have never been so clean, and that is with a newborn!